Pharmac’s proposal to axe its specialist Māori
advisory team is another sad example of the low priority the
Government places on improving the health of
Māori.
The proposed scrapping of the
Māori Directorate announced to staff today will see a net
loss of three roles, including those responsible for
supporting an anti-racism research programme, and the roles
responsible for supporting the work of the now-defunct
Māori Advisory Group.
“This is an
abandonment of Pharmac’s commitment to the health of
Māori and another breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said
Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
This
follows a decision in October last year to scrap the
independent Māori Advisory Group, Te Rōpū Māori, made up
of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists and
researchers.
This was a result of the Government’s
Letter of Expectations to Pharmac instructing it to stop
embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its funding
decisions.
“This latest proposal flies in the face of
Pharmac’s statutory obligation to consider equity and
address racism in access to medicines – this change will
further diminish the voice of Māori in Pharmac’s funding
decisions.
“The dismantling of Pharmac’s Māori
leadership capacity is unacceptable. It sends a clear
message to our communities, that Māori voices in the health
system can be ignored, erased, and sidelined.
“Across
the public service, the Government is overriding its legal
obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and washing its hands
of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that
previous governments embraced.
“We urge
the Government and Pharmac to not walk away from Te Tiriti o
Waitangi if it’s serious about improving the health
outcomes of Māori.”
The PSA stands with
its Māori members at Pharmac and calls for a firm
recommitment to equity in health outcomes for Māori and its
community.
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